Virginia National Guard celebrates 419 years of service

The Virginia National Guard celebrated its 419th birthday May 14, 2026, during a ceremony in Richmond, Virginia. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger provided remarks,
while retired Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, read aloud the birthday proclamation.

Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, also gave remarks and ceremonially cut the birthday cake with Spc. Hope Lindquist, the youngest Virginia National Guard Soldier in attendance.

“Thank you for your commitment to our Commonwealth,” said Spanberger during the ceremony. “Thank you for your commitment to service and thank you for joining what is a storied, historic and vitally important element, not just in Virginia’s history, but of our nation’s history. Thank you for preserving the ideals that we are celebrating with our 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and quest for independence.”

“For 419 years, here within Virginia, we have had citizens who have always been ready to stand for the peace, the security and the prosperity of their communities,” said
Ring. “Today, citizens are choosing to serve, not for themselves, but on behalf of new communities, and most importantly, on behalf of the our nation, as we have for the
last 419 years.”

Read more: https://va.ng.mil/Portals/55/Documents/Newsletters/VaGuard_Newsletter_2026_Issue5.pdf